Customers' Reviews:
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 Innovative but flawed performance, August 15, 2010
By Mel D. (California)
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SKS makes some good stuff but this air gauge needs improvement before I can recommend it to anyone.
Pros:
- digital display with a bright orange backlight (#1 feature)
- lightweight and ergonomic
- 0.5 psi accuracy (bar readings at the press of the button)
- head rotates (very cool)
- does schrader and presta (caveats below)
- bleeder valve (limited usefulness)
- auto off
Cons:
1) The SKS Air Checker only works with a real schrader valve.
This limits it's usefulness if you have presta valves and need to use an adapter. For example, if you are using a Kool Stop Presta Valve Adapter or similar you will find that the schrader end of the gauge will not take a pressure reading. This is because the presta valve pin tends to sit lower in the adapter than a schrader pin does in its stem and this fails to activate the gauge. Removing the adapter just to take the reading is something you don't have to do with other gauges (see Zefal below).
This is technically the fault of the adapter but it bears mentioning because it is a genuine limitation that will frustrate you when trying to refill your tires when there is no gauge on the compressed air line. If a tire gauge supports schrader valves and is intended for bicycle use, then it needs to work with the adapters and not stick to the specific dimensions of a schrader valve not matter how correct that may be.
2) The display does not update after using the bleeder valve.
The display does not update after pressing bleeder valve. This requires you to remove and reseat the gauge without loosing too much air through the presta valve. This is hard to do even with practice because the gauge makes a tight seal on the valve stem. When you loose some air, the usefulness of the bleeder valve becomes moot especially when you've lost more than you planned to bleed. This is a disappointment because the 0.5psi accuracy of this unit should have allowed me to bleed the air pressure down precisely.
The Zefal Twin Bicycle Tire Gauge is still my favorite (small, light and works great with presta valve adapters even though the 160 psi range can make it hard to read the exact tire pressure - the main reason I was hoping to replace it with a digital version).
If SKS can loosen the tolerances of the schrader end of the valve and update the display after pressing the bleed button, this gauge would be a best seller at this price point. I'd even carry one in my car.
14 of 18 people found this review helpful
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 Good Presision, April 4, 2010
By Ryan S. Shenk (USA)
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I mainly use this for my mountain bike with Schrader valves, but it also works great on my car tires. The gauge is accurate to 0.5 psi, which helps when trying to get my bike tires to a consistently low pressure without getting pinch flats. The only con is the unit turns off pretty quickly, but at least the battery should stay charged since it can't be left turned on. Overall it's been a great gauge.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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 handy item, September 9, 2009
By seal
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Very pleased with the accuracy of this gauge,only con is cycle time. Backlit & with case,would highly recommend.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
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Best One Yet!, May 18, 2010
By Not a Wookie! (Third Planet)
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I had one of these when they first appeared in the US market. It worked great! Quite accurate! Lost it on a biking trip. This one works just as great! Buy it at Amazon. They had the best price too!
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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SKS Airchecker Digital Airgauge, September 9, 2010
By Momof2 (Pacific Northwest USA)
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The SKS airchecker is an excellent tire pressure gauge. It is quick and easy to use/read. I have used it on both presta and schrader valves on my families bikes and I have even used it on the car. Well worth the money.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Very pleased overall, only a couple small issues, May 25, 2011
By S. Wolfe
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I've recently received this gauge and have so far been quite happy. The tool seems to be of high enough quality (as nice as any other digital pressure gauges I've had for my car), is easy to use, and compact enough to easily bring along on rides.
The only issues I have are small.
1) The presta fitting can be quite tight, it can be a little hard to remove from the valve. After using it for a while I've found the best way to remove it is to hold the valve with one hand while pulling the gauge off with the other.
2) I'm concerned the unit may turn on by being bumped in my seat bag, shortening the battery life. I haven't had this happen yet to my knowledge, but the button isn't recessed much and I have quite a bit in my bag. To work around this I think I'll likely just keep the batteries out of the tool until I need it.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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works good for me, April 10, 2011
By Frank
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i knew coming in by the previous reviews what to expect. to measure psi you have to unseat from presta and reseat. you can't deflate and measure psi at same time. oh well. it works fine for me with presta valves. i'd imagine it will work a bit better in the future when the rubber gasket on the presta side loosens up a bit.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
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Nice guage but annoying feature, February 10, 2011
By Dirty Duck
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This is a nice little pressure guage. Works well and is easy to use. Just push the button to turn it on and press on to valve stem. Reading can be in psi or bars. Seems a little cheap but so far it has held up fine. Major complaint is that the gauge has a power save feature. Guage will shut of after about 30 seconds. By the time I check the air in one tire and move to the next it has shut off.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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 Not as "advertised", August 24, 2010
By Bill Evans
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I bought this digital gauge for only one reason; to give an accurate reading while on the trail. Where I ride, I have noticed a substantial difference in tire performance depending on ground texture for that day. For this reason, I wanted a small, accurate gauge that would allow a convenient way to reduce pressure by a pound.
I should have read these reviews prior to my purchase, because although this gauge suggests that the bleeder button allows a "monitored" bleed, it does not. In fact, even the instructions in the package indicate that by pressing the bleed button, you can monitor the dropping pressure. They demonstrate this by a little diagram that shows a gauge dropping pressure as the button is pushed.
I have to scratch my head why this does not work. It seems like such a no-brainer. Why in the world would you even feel it is necessary to design in a bleed button if you did not intend for the pressure to be monitored for accuracy?
I learned about this shortcoming the first time I tried to use it while at the top of a steep decent. It had rained the night before giving our ground a tacky feel. I decided to drop my pressure 2 pounds in the front tire, to 16 pounds. I whipped out my brand-spanking new, fancy digital pressure device, stuck it on my presta valve, confirmed the 18 pounds currently in it, "burped" the button, and waited for the digital readout to change. And waited... nothing... burped it again and waited. Still nothing.
It didn't make sense to me. I burped it again. Nope, no change in the readout. I pulled it off, looked in the holes trying to figure out if I had something wrong, stuck it back on and wadda-ya-know... I had 14 pounds. Oh great! Now I had to drag out my pump and recharge my tire. I was not happy. That was exactly the reason I bought this gauge; so that I could very easily - and accurately - drop the pressures. I am planning to take it back.
If it were not for that one issue, I would have given it more stars. It is most disappointing that the instructions even show that the bleed button is monitored in real-time, so, go figure. I expect more from German products.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
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Best gauge I've Owned, July 28, 2011
By Sam F (California)
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I have been using this tire pressure gauge for over 2 years now and it is by far the best I've owned. I went through so many tire pressure gauges before finding the SKS. It is accurate and easy to use. I use it on road and mountain bikes (Presta valves) as well as for our cars (Schrader valves). It is accurate at low pressures of 20 psi for mountain bike tires as well as high pressures of 120 psi for road bike tires. It even comes with a nice storage bag. For the price, quality, and performance of this tire pressure gauge, I am very impressed. I've also given it as a gift to a few friends who also ride and they have been happy with it.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Perfect tire gauge for bicycles, so-so for cars., July 25, 2011
By Vicken Boghossian
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This gauge works absolutely perfect. Read the manual and you will see you have to release air THEN remeasure. Only gauges i can think of that show you as you go down are analog/dial gauges. Plus its more accurate to get a reading twice. Works perfect on presta valves, just unscrew the valves push up firmly and you get a reading in 1sec. For schrader valves (car tire valves) its exactly the same just push against the valve and 1sec reading.
Accuracy: I have a snapon dial gauge that i use for my car (schrader valve) only goes to 60psi so didnt bother buying adapters for the presta valve. My tire shows 31.5psi on the snapon gauge (twice the price as this one) my SKS air shows 32 and my other schrader digital gauge shows 32 so im going to say the .5psi accuracy is spot on. Only problem i found with this is using it on car tires its very small and has a short head to measure. Its made for bicycle use but can be used for cars as well just need more clearance. My other digital gauge is longer and made for cars so has a angled head.
Overall 5 out of 5. Does what its supposed to do worth great for both presta and scrader valves without any issues. Gives you an accurate reading. The auto off works great i can easily measure both tires before it shuts off so plenty of times. Don't let other reviews keep you from buying it its perfect.
I paid 20.44 3 days ago and as i write this review price changed to 19.83 go figure.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Does what it's suppose to do., April 19, 2011
By Ryan Blackburn
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Got this to measure my bike tires which have a presta valve. Works perfectly. Also the deflate button seems nice.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Full featured air gauge, August 28, 2010
By Daryl (Hot Springs, AR USA)
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I carry this air gauge in the under seat pouch on my bike and I love the features that it offers. It reads quickly and the digital readout makes it easy to tell what the air pressure is. The swivel head makes it easy to get a read you can see no matter how the tire is sitting. The button on the neck is nice because it allows you to release pressure if you over inflate.
The only thing that I would like better is if it would not automatically switch off so quickly, but the big on button makes it easy to bring it back to life when it does.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Nice purchase, August 7, 2010
By fastharry (NJ)
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I have had this 2 weeks now and it works well...The only caveat for improvement would be if you could use the bleeder valve to let off air and the gauge would give you a new reading as you press the bleeder valve button...As it is now you have to take it off the stem and re-attach it to get the new reading...Once you get used to it though you can pretty much determine what a 1 pound push is gonna be, so no biggie
I am pretty sure this is a fault of an electronic type gauge...Not going to "ding" it for that..still a 5 star purchase...BTW, having the backlight is a plus...
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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Nice tool., November 25, 2011
By N. Batcheler (London United Kingdom)
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The first one I received was dead as a dodo - nothing. Nada. Zip. I even went out and bought a new battery in case that was the problem and I could save myself the trouble of returning it. But no, still dead so back it went. Amazon, as ever, very efficient at getting a replacement to me and this one works fine so just unlucky the first time round I suppose. It'd be nice if the head swivelled a bit more than it does as it can be awkward to fit onto some valves but a minor niggle really. Now then, anyone want to buy a battery?
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 Piece Of Junk, November 12, 2011
By Mr. Howell (Rural Kentucky)
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As another reviewer stated, you can take repeated readings from the same tire, one right after another, and get WILDLY differing readings. My unit would not even read "0" when first turned on (or at any other time) and some segments of the LCD numerals were invisible. Although it had a button to press, which is supposed to release the air taken on the most recent reading, it apparently does nothing- and the unit must be powered off and then on again to take a new reading!!
I've never seen a product with so many flaws in one unit!
I do not have one good thing to say about hunk of junk. I am returning it to Amazon.
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Garbage, November 8, 2011
By ajgabriele (Florida)
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Ten readings taken one after the other yield ten different values varying by 10 PSI up and down. Unit must be allowed to turn itself off (time out) before a new reading is taken. Absolute junk.
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Just bad luck, October 18, 2011
By unclejef
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The unit I received was defective. Only a portion of the numerals are visible on the display.
It comes with a soft case.
Poor multi-language instructions but not exactly brain surgery.
The gauge does not monitor pressure change when the orange air bleeder button is used. Just measure, then push the orange button to deflate a little, then remove the gauge from the valve & immediately push it back on & you'll get a new lower reading, you don't have to rezero the gauge (which can only be done by turning it off).
It is small & lightweight.
The battery was very low & had to be replaced.
SO-
If it worked, the battery fresh, the display visible & able to monitor pressure change with air release via the orange bleeder button this would be an excellent product at a reasonable price.
If you are having trouble getting it to read when using schraeder adapters on presta valves, get a file & take about a 1/16" off of the male threaded end of the adapter. If you need to preserve the integrity of the threads, get a nut at the local hardware store, put it all the way on the male threads, file to length & then remove the nut. This will clean up the threads & make them function with pumps, valve caps & inflators that screw on.
UPDATE! Luckily I purchased this unit directly from Amazon and they sent an advanced exchange (2days!!) also a no charge UPS return label was made available for me to print out.
THE NEW UNIT:
All of the numerals light up correctly EXCEPT the far left one which is missing the top left corner of the digit. No big deal, I can switch over to bar instead of psi. There again, if I'm not sure if I have 100+psi or 200+psi I should be scheduled for termination & removed from the gene pool.
This is the first digital gauge I've used that does not have to be reset to zero between measurements.
Works well on Schraeder & presta valves.
Haven't tried it on a schraeder to presta adapter yet.
I made repeated measurements on a number of different tires & only had it miss-read once (it read 2.5psi higher), then immediatly measured correctly thereafter.
I like it. Without the display problems I would give it 4 stars.
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Excellent Accessory, August 13, 2011
By Mitch Wrubel
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This device works as advertised and is very easy to use. The item was received in a timely manner and was well packaged. I highly recommend this vendor.
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The display does not update while using the bleeder valve. major flaw., May 22, 2012
By FireFly
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A well built device but the gauge does not update while using the bleeder valve.
Major frustration when you're running out of the door and want that perfect reading.
I end up using the rough reading from the floor pump while this item sits in the toolbox never to be used again.
Wish i had sent it back while I had the chance
Would not recommend.
;]
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SKS Airchecker, March 24, 2012
By Capt Slow
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Best digital gauge I have found so far, especially for fiddly Presta valves. However, to get 5 stars it will need a couple design improvements, specifically a bleed valve that gives updated readings and a reset button so you don't have to keep turning it on and off to to zero out your readings.
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